Receptacle and closure



Patented Dec. 7, 1937 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE RECEPTACLE AND cLosuaEApplication May 2, 1935, Serial No. 19,441 1 11 Claims.

simple lever mechanism connecting the ends of the split ring forcontracting and/or expanding the same.

Another object of the invention is to eliminate the use of linkspivotally connecting a lever or levers with an end of the'split ring andto thereby simplify the construction of such devices without sacrificingeffective operation.

A further object is to reduce the cost of manufacture of such devices.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will become more apparentas the following description of one embodiment thereof progresses,reference being made to the accompanying drawing in which like referencecharacters are employed to designate like parts throughout the same.

In the drawing:-

Figure 1 is a top plan view of one embodiment of my invention applied inuse;

Figure 2 is an enlarged section taken on 2-2 of Figure l;

Figure 3 is an enlarged fragmentary view of the clamping device shown inFigure 1 and illustrates the position of the operating lever when thering is contracted;

Figure 4 is a view similar to that shown in Figure 3 and shows theoperating lever in ring expanded position;

Figure 5 is a section taken on line 5--5 of Figure 3; and,

Figure 6 is a section taken on line 6-6 of Figure 3.

Referring now more particularly to the drawing, the barrel or drum isindicated at l. The upper open end of the container is formed with aperipheral bead 2. A cover 3 comprising a cupped or depressed head,having a peripheral upwardly and outwardly extending flange 4, issupported by the bead 2'in such a manner that the cupped portion of thehead or cover may be telescoped for a short distance within the open endof the drum, as illustrated in Figure 2. It will be noted that a portionof the flange 4 is of substantially arcuate cross section to conformwith the approximate curvature of the upper surface of the head.

line A packing 5 consisting of an annulus of any suit able packingmaterial, such as flexible rubber tubing or cork, is interposed betweenthe flange 4 and the bead 2.

According to the present invention, I have provided an improved meansfor removably securing the cover on the drum or receptacle to effect afluid tight seal therebetween by exerting a substantially uniform andfirm pressure along the cover flange and bead in a directionsubstantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of the drum.

Such means preferably includes a transversely split, channeled clampingring 6 of substantially U-shaped cross section and which is capable ofbeing expanded and contracted by suitable means. In the form illustratedthe upper and lower flange and bead engaging walls respectively of thering converge slightly toward the outer diameter of the ring and engagethe cover flange and bead of the container to press the same togethertightly when the ring is contracted. However, it is to be understoodthat the ring and receptacle open end may be so designed that the coverwill be pressed into a tight seal with a shoulder formed at thereceptacle open end when the ring is expanded. That is, instead of thereceptacle being formed with a rolled bead 2, the open end may be formedwith an annular shoulder and an annular channel for receiving anexpander type ring, a packing ring and the cover.

By contracting the type of clamping ring herein illustrated, the coverflange will be pressed tightly against the packing 5 and the supportinghead 2 under a substantially vertical pressure.

In further carrying out my invention I have provided means connectingthe ends of the split ring for contracting and/or expanding the ring asin sealing the cover in place on the drum or in removing the same.

Such means, according to the present invention, includes a lever 1comprising a handle portion 8 and an enlarged substantially disc likefulcrum portion 9. To the ends of the ring defining the split aresecured, as by welding, the inwardly projecting lugs or brackets l0 andM. These brackets may be formed integral with the channel wall of thering, as shown and each is provided at its terminal inner end with astud or bearing pin I2 or l3. While I have not shown a roller bearing orfreely rotatable sleeve carried by each of the studs, it is to beunderstood that such is within the meaning of my invention, and, whenemployed, will reduce the friction of the studs against the walls of theslots in the head of the lever and those in the cross piece or bridgingmember 14 carried by the lever head. The studs arego'f sufiicient'lengthto pass through these slots and are headed at l5 to prevent accidentaldisplacement of the parts in use.

The member I4 is of suiiicient length to bridge the lugs or brackets I0and H throughout the fullest contraction or expansion of the ring, andis provided with elongated slots 16 and I! for receiving the studs l2and I3 respectively. The member I4 is carried by the lever fulcrumportion- 9 and is freely movable relative thereto on the headed pin l8which defines the actual fulcrum of the lever and is locatedintermediate the aligned slots l6 and II. It will be seen that themember remains in substantially the same position with respect to thebrackets l0 and II since the studs [2 and I3 travel along the slots l6and I I as the ring is contracted or expanded. These slots and studsthus serve to guide or align the ends of the ring as they approach anddepart from each other.

The studs l2 and I3 also operate in the curved slots l9 and 20 formed inthe disk-like'head 9 of the lever I. The slots l9 and 20 are preferablysubstantially spiral in shape agidjare developed from the axis of thepin l8 as a common center but extend along respective diametricallyopposed radii throughout their length. These slots, therefore, intersectplanes passing through the slots l6 and I7. In this manner, it will beseen that when the lever is swung to the left, or clockwise, in Figure 4the brackets l0 and II will be drawn together to contract the ring, andwhen swung in a counter-clockwise direction the ring will be expanded.

As the studs I2 and I3 approach the shorter radii of, the curved slotsI9 and 20 they will approach each other as shown in Figure 3 along theelongatedslots l6 and II respectively of the bridging member I4.

I have also provided means for exerting an outwardpressure substantiallyradially of the ring and against'the upwardly extending portion of thecover flange 4 at a point at or near the spaced ends of the ring. Thismeans consists of a cam bearing surface 2| formed on the head 9 of thelever I and adapted to engage with and press outwardly against the coverflange as the lever is swung in a clockwise direction as in Figure 3.This outward pressure will, of course, draw thering ends inwardly towardthe bead and cover flange and thus help to distribute the closing forcesmore uniformly around the contour of the ring and drum open end duringthe contraction of the ring.

In eliminating the use of links connecting the lever with a ring end andby providing a member such as the bridging member I4 having a slidingdriving connection with the lever head and with the pins in the bracketsl0 and H, I have found that retaining devices on the ring for holdingthe Lever handle in closed position may also be eliminated since thenormal forces tending to expand the ring when the ring is contracted areefiectively opposed by the intersecting slots l'll9v and l610 and therespective pins l3 and I2 operating in these slots. However, retainersmay be used to seal the lever against tampering in shipment.

While I have described the illustratedembodiment of my invention in someparticularity, obviously many others will readily occur to those skilledin this art, and I do not, therei'ore,'limit myself to the precisedetails shown and-described but claim as my invention all embodiments,variations and modifications thereof coming within the scope of theappended claims.

I claim:

1. A device for removably clamping a cover on the open end of areceptacle including a split locking ring having portions engaging thecover and a portion of the receptacle to press the same together whenthe ring is contracted lugs extending inwardly from the ends of thering, and means for contracting the ring including a lever having a pairof curved guides formed therein for sliding engagement with projectionson said lugs, a projection on each of said lugs, and a member carried bysaid lever and connected with each'of said lugs.

2.- In a clamping device for a metallic receptacle having a bead formedaround its open end and a cover having a flange fitting over the head, asplit contractible channeled clamping ring having portions engageablewith and pressing the cover flange and bead together when-the ring iscontracted, lugs extending inwardly of said ring ends, and means forcontracting and expanding the ring including a'member bridging saidlugs, a lever pivoted to said member, andv a driving connection betweensaid lever and said lugs, said driving connection comprising curvedguides formed in said lever and projections on each of said lugsforengagement with the respective guides and said bridging member.

3. A device for removably clamping a cover on the open end of areceptacle-including a split locking ring having portions engaging thecover and a portion of the receptacle to press the same together whenthe ring is contracted, lugs extending inwardly from the ends of thering, and

means for contracting the ring including a lever having curved guidesformed therein, and a projection on each of said lugs and operating insaidrespective guides to draw the ends of the ring together when thelever is swung in one direction.

4. A device for removably clamping a cover on the open end of a.receptacle including a split locking ring having portions engaging thecover and a portion of the receptacle to press the same together whenthe ring is contracted, lugs .extending inwardly from the ends of thering, and means for contracting the ring including a member bridgingsaid lugs, a lever pivoted to said member and a pair of curved guidesnear its fulcrum, said lugs having portions formed for slidableengagement with said guides and said bridging member to provide adriving connection therebetween.

5. A device for removably clamping a cover on the open end of areceptacle including a split locking ring having portions engaging thecover and a portion of the receptacle to press the same together whenthe ring is contracted, lugs extending inwardly from the ends of thering, means for contracting the ring including a lever having directconnection with each of said lugs to draw the ends of the ring togetherwhen the lever is swung in one direction, said lever having a pair ofcurved slots formed therein, and 'means on each of said lugs andslidable in said slots to provide a driving connectiontherebetween. v

6. A device for removably clamping a cover on the open endof areceptacle including a split locking ring having portions engaging thecover and a portion of the receptacle to press the same together whenthe ring is contracted, lugs extending inwardly from the ends of thering, means for contracting the ring including a lever having directconnection with each of said lugs 76 to draw the ends 0! the ringtogether when the lever is swung in one direction, said lever having apair of spiral slots formed therein, and means on each of said lugs andslidable in said slots to provide a driving connection therebetween.

7. A device for removably clamping a cover on the open end of areceptacle including a split locking ring having portions engaging thecover and a portion of the receptacle to press the same together whenthe ring is contracted, lugs extending inwardly from the ends of thering, and means for contracting the ring including a lever having.direct connection with eachof said lugs to draw the ends of the ringtogether when the lever is swung in one direction, said lever having acurved slot nearits fulcrum, means on one of said lugs projecting intosaid slot to provide a driving connection therebetween, and an elongatedmember slidably bridging said lugs and having a slot extendinglengthwise toward each end of the member, said projecting means on saidlug being receivable and slidable in the slots of said member.

8. In a clamping device for a metallic receptacle having a bead formedaround its open end and a cover having a flange fitting over the bead, asplit contractible channeled clamping ring having portions engageablewith and pressing the cover flange and bead together when the ring iscontracted, lugs extending inwardly of said ring ends, and means forcontracting and expanding the ring including-a member bridging saidlugs, studs carried by said lugs and slidably engaging said bridgingmember, and a lever pivotally connected with said member and slotted toreceive said studs.

-9. In a clamping device for a metallic receptacle having a bead formedaround its open end and a cover having a flange fitting over the bead, asplit contractible channeled clamping ring having portions engageablewith and pressing the cover flange and bead together when the ring iscontracted, lugs extending inwardly of said ring ends, and means forcontracting and expanding the ring including a member bridging saidlugs, studs carried by said lugs, said member being slotted to slidablyreceive said studs, and a lever pivotally connected with said member andslotted to receive said studs.

10. In a clamping device for a metallic receptacle having a bead formedaround its open end and a cover having a flange fitting over the bead, asplit contractible channeled clamping ring having portions engageablewith and pressing the cover flange and bead together when the ring iscontracted, lugs extending inwardly of said ring ends, and means forcontracting and expanding the ring including a member bridging saidlugs, studs carried by said lugs, said mem-' her being slotted toslidably, receive said studs, and a lever pivotally connected with saidmember and slotted to receive said studs, said lever having a bearingsurface adapted to engage said cover flange to impart an outwardpressure thereagainst when the ring is contracted.

11. A device for removably clamping a cover on the open end of areceptacle including a split locking ring having portions engaging thecover and a portion of the receptacle to press the same together whenthe ring is contracted, lugs extending inwardly from the ends of thering, and means for contracting the ring including a lever having acurved guide formed therein for sliding engagement with a portion of oneof said lugs said portion being formed to cooperate with said guide,said lever having pivotal connection with the other of said lugs, and amember carried by said lever and having guided slidable engagement witheach of said lugs.

' WILLIAM LOCKHART.

